Hat frame and method



Dec. 2, 1969 M. MILLER HAT FRAME AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1967 I N VEN T OR. W/lfV/[l Way mzmw Dec. 2, 1969 MlLLE 3,480,969

HAT FRAME AND METHOD Filed July 31, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fi m/[z may United States Patent 3,480,969 HAT FRAME AND METHOD Mathiel Miller, 411 Delaware St., Huntington Beach, Calif. 92646 Filed July 31, 1967, Ser. No. 657,181 Int. Cl. A42c /00 US. Cl. 2-180 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to womens hat frames and, more particularly, to a deformable mesh frame to which swaths of trim fabric and the like may be afiixed, either permanently or temporarily, and which become integral components of the hats built thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the prior art In the milliners art, it is known to provide a hat frame on which swaths of cloth, pieces of fur and other decorative items may be mounted. Known hat frames, however, have characteristic configurations which determine the basic shape and nature of the hat in which they are used. Also, known hat frames, if not being essentially rigid so as to define a particular hat size, are so constructed that each frame corresponds to a definite hat size or narrow range of bat sizes. Thus, it is necessary that a quantity of hat frames of different sizes and configurations be stocked by a milliner to meet the requirements of the customers served by the milliner. It is not uncommon for a milliner to find that some frames are used extensively, while others may not be used at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a unique, versatile, effective, etficient and economical hat frame for use in womens hats. The frame is deformable so that it can be molded into any one of several different basic hat configurations and, when so deformed, it retains its shape until remolded. The deformability of the frame also frees the frame from narrow restrictions as to size. The frame is of mesh-like construction which results in a lightweight frame. Also, the mesh-like construction contributes significantly to the versatility of the frame which enables the use of many different and varied types of trim material to produce myriad different styles of hats. The frame is simple and inexpensive to construct.

Generally speaking, this invention provides a womans hat frame comprising a deformable, generally dome-like shell structure of mesh-like appearance. The frame is defined by a length of metal wire fitted with a fabric covering. The wire is bent to define a ring at the apex of the frame, and extends in a generally spiral manner from the ring to the base of the frame. Between the ring and the base of the frame, the wire defines a plurility of tiers of loops. Means are provided for securing the loops in each tier to the adjacent loops in the tiers thereabove and therebelow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features of the present invention are more fully set forth in the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of this invention, which description is presented with refer.- ence to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hat frame;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hat frame shown in FIG. 1 deformed into a pillbox-like configuration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view of a portion of the structure of a frame according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of another frame;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of still another frame;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of yet another frame;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view on another frame;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of a bow for use with the frame shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of construction of a frame having the characteristics illustrated in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A hat frame 10, shown in FIG. 1 as fabricated, has a basically dome-like configuration and an open, meshlike appearance. Since the frame is deformable, the use of the term dome-like to describe the frame is a relative term used for descriptive purposes and should not be taken to mean that the frame always: has a dome-like configuration in use. The frame preferably is made of a length of silk-covered metal wire 11 (see FIG. 5) provided with a fabric covering 12 along its length, Preferably the wire is a small gauge, mild steel wire, and the fabric covering is a length of seamstress" fabric tubing; mild steel is soft in terms of Brinell hardness and has low resilience relative. to higher carbon or alloy steels, such as piano wire. It is further preferred that the fabric tubing be of a velvet or silk material, although any material may be used in the fabric tubing. As is apparent from FIG. 5, it is preferred that the wire fit loosely within the fabric tubing. Alternatively, seamstresss wire ribbon may be used in the fabric tube in place of a single strand of wire. For convenience of illustration and further description, reference character 13 will be used to refer to the strip material defined by the combination of wire 11 and fabric tubing 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, deformable strip material 13 is arranged to define a small diameter ring 14 at the apex of the hat frame structure. From the apex ring, the strip material extends in a basically spiral manner to a base ring 15 extending around the circumference of the base of the frame. Between the apex and base rings, the strip material is arranged to define a plurality of tiers 16-21, for example, of loops 22. The strip material in each tier of loops has a basically sinusoidal configuration. Each loop has a top bend portion 23 and a lower bend portion 24. In each tier of loops, the upper bend portions of the loops are connected to the lower bend portions of the loops in the tier above; in uppermost tier 16, the upper bend portion of each loop is connected to apex ring 14. Similarly, in each tier, the lower bend portion 24 of each loop is connected to a loop in the tier below; in lowermost tier 21, the lower bend portions of the loops are connected to base ring 15. At appropriate locations in apex ring 14 and in base ring 15, the ends of strip material 13 are bent around the strip material to form appropriate terminations of the strip material. The base ring may define a series of shallow scallops 25 depending below the lower bend portions of the loops in tier 21.

The configuration of frame illustrated in FIG. 1 is that which the frame may take at the time of completion of its manufacture. In such form, the frame is generally dome-like in that the intersection of a plane radially through the axis of the frame with the surface developed by the frame itself is a curved line concave toward the frame axis.

In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the first tier of loops below apex ring 14 is formed of five loops, the second loop tier is formed of nine loops, and the third and succeeding tiers each include eleven loops. All of the loops in the frame have substantially the same developed length between their connections to the tier nextabove. That is, in tier 19, say, the distance along the strip material between corresponding points of any two adjacent upper bend portions is the same as between any two other adjacent upper bend portions in tier 19 as well as in the other tiers. It is apparent, therefore, that in the first and second tiers, some of the loops have connected to them two upper bend portions of the loops in the tier below, but that in the third and succeeding tiers, the loops have a one-to-one correspondence.

Where the frame is woven by hand, the construction of the frame proceeds from the apex ring as a flat disc through the third tier of loops. As the fourth and succeeding tiers are woven, the frame assumes more and more of the dome-like shape shown in FIG. 1.

In view of the nature of the material used in the con struction of strip material 13, it is apparent that frame 10 is readily deformable from one configuration into another and that, when so deformed, the frame retains its shape until deformed again as desired. FIG. 2 shows frame 10 deformed into a pillbox-type hat frame configuration. If desired, the base diameter of the frame may be increased slightly merely by pulling the material of the frame to reduce the depth of scallops 25 in the base ring, as shown. Preferably, the connections between the loops in the adjacent tiers of the frame are relatively loose so that deformation of the frame from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is readily obtained.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate various ways in which adjacent tiers of loop in frame 10 may be connected together. In the connection mode shown in FIG. 3, the lower bend portion 24 of each loop in tier 18, say, defines a simple, smoothly curved, return-bend 26. In forming the upper bend portion 23 of a loop in tier 19, for example, strip material 13 is laced through the return-bend of the loop thereabove, and is caused to make one and one-half complete turns (as shown at 27) around the strip material defining the loop in tier 18. This arrangement may also be used to secure the loops in tier 16 to apex ring 14 and to secure base ring 15 to the lower bend portions of the loops in tier 21. This arrangement has the feature that it provides good flexibility and adjustability in the configuration of the frame since the laced connection can be slid or moved about for short distances within the frame. The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 has the disadvantage that the frame must be made by hand since the strip material must be laced through the previously formed loops.

The interloop connection illustrated in FIG. 4 is carried out by forming a tight bight portion 28 in the strip material used to define a loop to be connected to a previously formed loop in the frame. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bight portion is placed behind a smoothly curved, returnbend 26 in a loop in tier 18, for example. The bight then is twisted down over the front of the return-bend, and then back up behind the lower part of the loop in tier 18 so that the terminus 29 of the bight lies above and behind the strip material defining return-bend 26. This connection arrangement has the advantage that it does not require lacing of the strip material through previously formed loops, but somewhat more strip material is required to define the same size frame as may be formed through the use of the connection arrangement shown in FIG. 3. The deformability of the resulting frame is substantially as great as the deformability of a frame using the connection arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, interloop connections between adjacent tiers of loops may be made by stitiching, as shown at 30, the loops together through fabric tubing 12. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower bend portion of the loop in tier 18, for example, may be formed with a smooth return-bend 26, and the upper bend portion of the adjacent loop in tier 19 may be formed by a downwardly opening return-bend 31 essentially tangent to each bend 26. The juxtaposed bends are connected to each other by a suitable metal or plastic clip 32. The clip may be colored to match the color of the fabric tubing in strip material 13, or it may have a complementary color for decorative purposes. Preferably, the clip holds the loops loosely together so that the portions of the strip material defining the interconnected loops may be moved relative to each other as the frame is deformed from one configuration to another as desired by the milliner.

To facilitate connection of desired items of trim to the hat frame during the making of a hat, metal or plastic snap receptacles 34 are sewn to the fabric tubing of the strip material at desired locations on the frame. Cooperating snap studs 35 are affixed to suitable items of trim, such as bow 36 illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates several stages in the manufacture of frame 10 in which the interloop connection arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is used. A form 40, similar to a Wig form, is provided. The form has a size characteristic of the size of frame which is to be built thereon. At selected locations on the form, a plurality of pegs or pins 41 extend from the surface of the form. The pins are arranged around the line of apex ring 14, just below the location of the strip material at a loop upper bend portion 23, and just above the location of the strip material at a loop lower bend portion 24. That is, the pins are located adjacent the respective upper local limits and lower local limits of a locally sinusoidal, generally spiral path which extends down and around the form from the ring. A suitable length of strip material 13 is selected and is first wound around the pins which delineate apex ring 14. The strip material is then laid in a locally sinusoidal, generally spiral manner around the form and to the pins which delineate the base ring of the frame. It will be apparent that, in laying the strip material on the form in this manner, a series of generally juxtaposed loop upper bend portions and lower bend portions are provided in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6. The person fabricating the hat frame then merely need apply clips 32 to appropriate locations of the frame. The finished frame is then removed from the form and such snap receptacles as may be desired are stitched to the fabric tubing of the frame.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention provides a versatile and unique hat frame. Suitable swaths of tulle or lace fabric, or any other fabric desired, may be mounted on the frame, either through the use of snap fasteners or by lacing the fabric swaths through the loops of the frame. In the latter instance, the fabric tubing selected for use in the frame may be chosen either to blend with the coloring of the swaths applied to the frame or to complement the fabric trim. Alternatively, or in addition to the use of swaths of fabric, bows, flowers, or any other suitable trim elements may be applied to the frame. The frame may be deformed into a basic pillbox configuration, or it may be used in its original configuration. The height-to-base-diameter ratio of the frame may be adjusted merely by pulling on the frame in suitable directions. Also, the frame can be deformed to define a brim.

In large sizes, the frame may be used quite advantageously to manufacture a hat suitable for use by women over hair curlers or rollers; the frame is particularly useful in this application since, once the hat has been applied to the head over rollers, for example, the frame may be deformed to assure that the hat remains on the wearers head. Similarly, large sizes of frame may be used in the construction of hats suitable for use over bouffant and similar teased hair styles.

Also, it should be apparent from the foregoing that the effective size of a large frame may be adjusted to, in effect, define a smaller size frame merely by deforming the strip material from which the frame is built in the desired manner to reduce the effective diameter of the base ring of the frame. Such size reduction may be accomplished readily by increasing the depth of the scallops provided in the base ring when the frame has the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

This invention has been described above with relation to specific materials of construction and construction arrangements. This has been merely by way of example in furtherance of the description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be taken as limiting the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame for manufacturing a womans hat or the like comprising a deformable shell of substantially domelike configuration and open mesh-like appearance, the shell being defined by a length of strip material consisting of a deformable metal Wire of low hardness and resilience relative to piano wire, e.g., having a fabric covering therealong, the strip material being bent to define a ring at substantially the apex of said dome and to extend a plurality of times substantially spirally about the ring to the rim of the dome and to define said rim which is greater in circumferential extent than said ring, the strip material along substantially the entire extent thereof between the ring and the rim in each turn of the spiral about the ring being bent into a generally sinusoidal configuration thereby to define a plurality of tiers of loops about the ring, the loops in the sinusoidal configuration of the strip material in each turn of the spiral cooperating with the sinusoidal loops defined by the material in the adjacent turns of the spiral thereby to impart to theshell its mesh-like appearance, and means for securing the loops in each tier to the adjacent loops in the tiers adjacent thereto.

2. A hat frame according to claim 1 wherein the fabric covering for the wire is a tube of fabric having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the wire so that the wire fits loosely in the tube.

3. A hat frame according to claim 2 wherein each loop has an upper bend portion and a lower bend portion.

4. A hat frame according to claim 3 wherein the means for securing each loop to an adjacent loop is defined by the strip material in that the strip material at the upper bend portion of each loop is passed spirally around the strip material forming the lower bend portion of a loop thereabove.

5. A hat frame according to claim 3 wherein the means for securing each loop to an adjacent loop is defined by the strip material in that the strip material defining the upper bend portion of a loop forms a bight portion, the bight portion being bent at least substantially one turn around the strip material forming the lower bend portion of a loop thereabove.

6. A hat frame according to claim 3 wherein the means for securing each loop to an adjacent loop comprises stitching through the strip material between the lower bend portion of one loop and the upper bend portion of a loop therebelow.

7. A hat frame according to claim 3 wherein the means for securing each loop to an adjacent loop comprises a clip loosely journalling the strip material defining the lower bend portion of a loop and the upper bend portion of a loop therebelow.

8. A hat frame according to claim 3 including at least one part of a two-part releasable fastener aflixed to the frame at a selected location for cooperation with a complementary part of the fastener affixed to a hat trim article for releasably attaching the trim article to the frame.

9. The method of manufacturing a frame for a womans hat comprising the steps of (a) providing a length of strip material consisting of a wire loosely disposed within a fabric tube,

(b) providing a dome-like form resembling a wig form having projecting therefrom a plurality of pins, a portion of said pins being arranged at selected locations around a ring-like path of selected diameter at substantially the top of the form, the remainder of said pins being located at the upper and lower local limits of a locally sinusoidal and generally spiral path which extends around and downwardly of the surface of the form from the ring-like path, the remainder of the pins being arranged so that each upper local limit of a given turn of the spiral path around the form is registered either with the ring-like path or with the turn in the spiral path thereabove, as appropriate,

(c) laying the strip material at one end of the length around the pins defining the ring-like path and securing the material to itself to define a ring of the selected diameter,

(d) laying the strip material from the ring progressively around the pins defining the locally sinusoidal and generally spiral path, and

(e) securing the strip material together where an upper local limit of the spiral path is juxtaposed to the ring and where an upper local limit of the spiral path is juxtaposed to a portion of the spiral path thereabove at locations along the spiral path below the ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 48,412 6/1865 Komp 2180 797,286 8/ 1905 Jameson 223--8 961,476 6/1910 Baer 132-49 1,379,236 5/1921 Wolf 132-49 1,848,993 3/ 1932 Butcher 132-49 2,418,764 4/ 1947 Ford 2--180 XR 3,019,444 2/1962 Pollack et a1 2174 XR 3,111,679 11/ 1963 Reinsberg 2-174 3,164,310 1/1965 Sander 223--68 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

